Our Mission

The Mission of the Institute is to provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.

Marine Corps Snaps

Following the untimely death early in 1997 of Master Sergeant Tom Bartlett, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), Managing Editor of Leatherneck magazine, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (formerly Historical Foundation) decided to create the Tom Bartlett Marine Corps Photo Contest, in his memory.

Judging for the initial contest was concluded at the Naval Institute in September 1998. First Prize was awarded to Sergeant Jason C. Huffine, stationed at 12th Marine Corps District headquarters in San Diego, California. For the uninitiated, Sergeant Huffine's splendid image of the first day of recruit training may leave some doubt about who is really in charge. To just about all Marines, however, there can be be no doubt--clearly, the recruit is only responding in a vigorous manner to the requests of his somewhat overheated drill instructor.

First Honorable Mention went to photojournalist Ted Carlson of Mission Viejo, California, a specialist in aviation photography, for his arresting "Harrier Stack."

Two Second Honorable Mentions were awarded. Lance Corporal Joseph Tonetti of Quantico's Marine Corps Combat Development Center captured the drum major's "Bugles Up" signal during an appearance of the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps in Butler Stadium. And Sergeant Kane Walsh of the 1st Marine Corps District in Garden City, Long Island, shot a desolate, trackmarked snowscape on Hokkaido, Japan, in "Miles to Go. . . ."